We celebrate the outcome of todays Senate vote defeating Amendment No. 1618 to the Defense Authorization Bill (S. 1390), which would have forced states to recognize and respect concealed carry permits issued by other states. Passage of this dangerous amendment would have reduced concealed carry permit regulations to the "lowest common denominator," risking the safety and well-being of individuals in states with strong, intentionally passed gun control laws.

This year alone, there have been three confirmed mass shootings by concealed carry permit holders, many of whom obtain their permits through states weak background check laws and incomplete criminal and mental illness databases. States and cities that have tougher gun control laws than their neighbors ought not to be forced to lower their standards. With more than 30,000 Americans dying each year as a result of gun violence, we must renew our commitment to strengthen Americas gun laws and refuse to allow this senseless loss of life to continue.

Todays legislative victory reinvigorates us in the fight for stricter gun control laws. The next target of the gun control community will be passage of national legislation to close the so-called "gun show loophole" by requiring stringent Brady background checks on all gun purchases. Hopefully this victory will give momentum to efforts of the administration, Congress and the gun control advocacy community to enact strong and safe gun control measures, like this one, that will protect the sanctity and value of human life.